Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Cool Tinsley Lunar Unicycle Update
In the 1950's, pulp artist and illustrator Frank Tinsley created a marvelous device - a Lunar Unicyle, a single-wheeled vehicle for exploring the Moon.
(Tinsley Lunar Unicycle)
This unique take on a lunar rover was another idea from Frank Tinsley and the ARMA Corporation, dating back to 1959. It was designed to conduct an initial survey of the lunar surface. A giant ball with tire-like treads wrapped both vertically and horizontally on the sphere for gripping the moon’s surface would help move the unicycle around. An umbrella-like overhang of solar panels would collect power from the sun and power the unicycle during rover exploration. There were even living quarters incorporated into the plans to accommodate explorers conducting long-term missions outside of the temporary lunar base. The concept for this proposed rover prototype was conceived with the assumption that humankind would have colonized the moon before the 1980s.
In our time, @runnymonkey (aka NickStevens Graphics) has updated this image magnificently.
And the finished image.
— NickStevens Graphics (@runnymonkey) February 28, 2018
Tinsley's Lunar Unicycle finds the #soviet Luna 9 soft lander.
Irregular terrain to break up shadows, tracks painted in by hand. pic.twitter.com/MD6Nye9laX
Technovelgy readers know how much I enjoy the mental picture painted by the printed word; check out the lunocycle from The Rolling Stones (1952) and the moon skis (1939), both stories by Robert Heinlein, of course.
Via Discover Magazine.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 2/20/2018)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 0 )
Related News Stories - (" Vehicle ")
The 'Last Mile' In China Crowded With Delivery Robots
Yes, it's a delivery robot. On wheels.
Musk Idea Of Cars Talking To Each Other Predicted 70 Years Ago
'My cars talk to one another.' - Isaac Asimov, 1953.
Waymo And Tesla 'Autonomous Cabs' Are Piloted By Remote Drivers
‘Where to, sport?’ the starter at cab relay asked. - Philip K. Dick, 1957.
Maybe It's Too Soon To Require Autonomous Mode
'I hope all those other cars are on automatic,' he said anxiously. - Arthur C. Clarke, 1976.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Replace The Smartphone With A Connected Edge Node For AI Inference
'Buy a Little Dingbat... electropen, wrist watch, pocketphone, pocket radio, billfold ... all in one.'
Artificial Skin For Robots Is Coming Right Along
'... an elastic, tinted material that had all the feel and appearance of human flesh and epidermis.'
Robot Guard Dog On Duty
I might also be thinking of K-9 from Doctor Who.
Wearable Artificial Fabric Muscles
'It is remarkable that the long leverages of their machines are in most cases actuated by a sort of sham musculature...'
BrainBridge Concept Transplant Of Human Head Proposed
'Briquet’s head seemed to think that to find and attach a new body to her head was as easy as to fit and sew a new dress.'
Google's Nano Banana Pro Presents Handwritten Math Solutions
'...copy was turned out in a charming and entirely feminine handwriting.'
Edible Meat-Like Fungus Like Barbara Hambly's Slunch?
'It was almost unheard of for slunch to spread that fast...'
Sunday Robotics 'Memo' Bot Has Unique Training Glove
'He then started hand movements of definite pattern...'
Woman Marries Computer, Vonnegut's Dream Comes True
'Men are made of protoplasm... Lasts forever.'
Natural Gait With Prosthetic Connected To Nervous System
'The leg was to function, in a way, as a servo-mechanism operated by Larry’s brain...'
Spidery 'Walk Me' Toyota Autonomous Wheel Chair Like Star Wars
Walk along with the emperor.
Dancing Robots Taught Dance Moves
'A clockwork figure would be the thing for you...'
Proof Of Robothood - Not A Person
'Who are you people? - Show 'em.'
Indonesian Clans Battle
'The observation vehicle was of that peculiar variety used in conveying a large number of people across rough terrain.'
The 'Last Mile' In China Crowded With Delivery Robots
Yes, it's a delivery robot. On wheels.
Tornyol Microdrone Kills Mosquitoes
'The real border was defended by... a swarm of quasi-independent aerostats.'
